Mark Beeson

Downy Woodpecker / Picoides pubescens

 

One of the most abundant woodpeckers, these little birds have stiff tail feathers serving to brace them, like a tripod, as they cling to trees. That solid position supports them as they "drum" on hollow logs to announce territories. All woodpeckers have long barbed tongues used to pull insects out of tiny places. The tripod stance of the Downy makes its hunt for food a little easier.

Downys have a three-fold support system.

How about you?

Do you have some friends you can lean on? Can they lean on you?

By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped. -  Ecclesiastes 4:12

Red-Bellied Woodpecker / Melanerpes carolinus

These little zebra-backed woodpeckers have a red crown extending down the nape of their necks. What's interesting to me is the nomenclature referencing the slight tinge of red on the belly - which is unique to this bird.

The Northern Flicker is similar to the Red-bellied Woodpecker. So is the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. It's that faint tinge of red on the belly that helps you know you're looking at a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

I see the same principle with us.

It's curious that the distinguishing attributes identifying us are shockingly subtle. Since we have so much in common with each other, we use slight differences, exceptional distinctives that set us apart from others, to differentiate.

It's the unusual things that set us apart.  It's the unique things - inimitable things - that identify us.

People classify us as Christ-followers when they see the characteristics of Christ's love in us. We don't return evil for evil. We overcome evil with good.

"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."  (John 13:34-35)

 

What Will You Do With All That Seed?

 

The Bible has a lot to say about sowing and reaping.

I've decided everything we have: every friend, every hour, every dollar and every opportunity is ours to plant or save. No matter what we receive, no matter how much we hold in our hands, we'll view whatever is entrusted to us as harvest or seed - one or the other.

If you hold your time, money and relationships as harvest, you'll soon realize you have everything you're going to have.  Hold tight to what you have and you'll have no more. 

If you think of your moments, cash, ideas and friendships as seed, you'll discover there is more in your hand that you can imagine.  Plant the seed and you'll have an increase.  Plant the increase and you'll have more.

Think about it.

If you got ten dollars, would you see it as your harvest?  Would you sing and dance and say, "My ship has come in! I'm set for life!" Or would you use it as seed, investing it so it could increase? Wouldn't you think of ten dollars as a start for something more?

What if you got ten million dollars?  Would you see it as your harvest? 

What if you viewed your ten million dollars as you see your ten dollars?  What if you saw it as seed?  What if you believed God was entrusting you with the stewardship of a "little thing" expecting you to invest it wisely?

How do you see your stuff?

Seed or harvest?

The way you look at the gifts God has given matters more than you know.

"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?"  (Luke 16:10-12 )

 

I Told Rick We're Still In...

 

                                                                                          - Photo by Sheila Beeson

I've been teaching the Purpose Driven Model for more than 20 years.

In case you're curious, wonder no more; I'm still in. Rick asked me to keep helping with PD and I assured him I would.

Not only that, I also signed the "P.E.A.C.E. Coalition" wall, indicating my confidence in the P.E.A.C.E. PLAN Rick rolled out at last week's conference.

Rick's definition of the P.E.A.C.E Plan is "Ordinary People, empowered by God's Spirit, doing what Jesus did, together, wherever they are."

"You (ordinary people) will receive power (empowered by God's Spirit) when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses (doing what Jesus did...together) both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth (wherever they are). (Acts 1:8)

P = Promote Reconciliation
E = Equip Servant Leaders
A = Assist the Poor
C = Care for the Sick
E = Educate the Next Generation

You can go back and read some of my thoughts about P.E.A.C.E. in last-week's-posts if you'd like. It might help you understand why I'm "in" for the next run of P.E.A.C.E..

Just remember, there is a long stride between imagination and implementation...

More Information On Our Elkhart Site

                                                                    - Photo by Jeff Myers

I asked Jeff and Leslee Bell to address every person at GCC this weekend. In all five services they fired up the crowd with exciting news about GCC's Elkhart site. (Jeff even did a fine impersonation of my Sunday "helium voice." He is very talented.)

They're leading a rally for the Elkhart crowd on June 10th. I hope you'll be there so you can get the vision for what we're doing and why.

Jeff launched a new blog about their ministry at "Elkhartpastor.com."  That's easy to remember. Check it out.

Don't miss Jeff's June 10th rally for this new beginning. Bring a friend. We'll have a great night.

God told Habakkuk to write plainly "on tablets" so everyone got the same message. (I wonder if blogs have replaced tablets because they're easier to copy...)

I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint. Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time ... it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."  (Habakkuk 2:1,2,3b)

Ford Ironman 70.3

 

Aaron did Florida's Ford Ironman 70.3 last Sunday.  In this race participants swim 1.2 miles, get out of the water and bike 56 miles, then run 13.1 miles as fast as they can.  After training for months Aaron's race went off without a hitch. 

I couldn't be happier for Aaron. Accomplishing a lofty goal is a thrill. His strict training and determination paid huge dividends.

Well done Aaron. Well done!

    Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.  (1 Corinthians 9:25-27)

Peace Coalition Partners

 

Rob and Michelle have been our friends since they first came to GCC more than 15 years ago. Everyone needs mentors, partners, teammates and friends. Rob and Michelle fill all those roles for us. We trust them. We love them.

They are faithful friends.

Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. - Proverbs 17:17

7 Distinctives of P.E.A.C.E. - Warren Continues...

The definition of the PEACE Plan is "Ordinary People, empowered by God's Spirit, doing what Jesus did, together, wherever they are."

"You (ordinary people) will receive power (empowered by God's Spirit) when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses (doing what Jesus did...together) both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth (wherever they are). (Acts 1:8)

P = Promote Reconciliation
E = Equip Servant Leaders
A = Assist the Poor
C = Care for the Sick
E = Educate the Next Generation

What makes PEACE unique?

Here are Rick's 7 Distinctives for the PEACE plan.

1. PEACE promotes, plants, and partners with the local church.  It is a church-based strategy. It reclaims the primacy of the local church and its role in global missions. For too long we have abdicated the responsibility to the parachurch organizations. For 1900 years the local church was the center of global missions.
Today there are over 40,000 501C-3 organizations in America!

Rick told a parachurch CEO, "Do you know the difference between you and me? I trust pastors and you don't. I believe in the church and you don't."

What the parachurch does is a drop in the bucket compared to what we could accomplish if we could mobilize the local church around the world.

Sidebar: Rick says, "Here is the key to weddings.
The star of the wedding is the bride. The co-star is the mother of the bride. But remember, the person who gets the glory is the bride!  I think that is a spiritual principle; the Bride of Christ gets the glory."

2. Imitates Jesus' Model.

PEACE is a strategy built on the actual instructions Jesus gave his teams when he sent them out on mission. Luke 10 and Matthew 10 are instructions of Jesus' Mission Strategy.

Don't take a purse; don't take money when you go out on mission. Remember. The answer is not money!  If throwing money at poverty was the answer to poverty, we'd have no poverty.  We don't want to rob people of their dignity and create a dependency.

Don't take a staff; don't take a symbol of power. (Notice when bishops and popes walk around they carry a staff.  That says, "I've got the power and you don't.") Don't go in acting like you have all the power.

Eat what is set before you. Be polite to the people. Adapt to the local customs and local flavors. Don't ask them to become like you before they start following Christ. This principle applies in America too. A missionary may have the truth but no one will hear you if you don't learn the language.

What Jesus tells us to do is what PEACE is built on.

Go in the village and find the Man of Peace. Start your ministry with him.
The Man of Peace is the one who is OPEN and INFLUENTIAL.  It could be a woman. It could be a man. You can find the person of PEACE in every village, every town, every corporation and every city.  Notice, the Man of PEACE doesn't have to be a Christian yet. How do we know? Because every Man of PEACE Jesus disciples met was not a Christian.

Minimal pre-service training followed up with "on the job" training for the rest of your life.  We don't want professional students. 

Our pre-service is primarily "Do No Harm."

3. Led by Amateurs.

They do what they do "out of love." 
Revival always starts with the peasants, not the kings.

4. Links Public, Private and Church Sectors.

A one-legged-stool will fall over. We need the role of government. We need the role of business. We need the role of local congregations.

What is wrong with management? Nothing. It is the same word as "stewardship."

5. Attacks All Five Giants

PEACE is a comprehensive strategy. It attacks all the problems because they are all intertwined. Governments ignore the spiritual dimension and NGO's typically specialize, but the church is called to care about all!

6. Reorganizes efforts through a network.

Every time God's Word has been put in a new technology, revival comes! In 1440 the printing press was developed for printing the Word of God. Six decades later we get the Reformation!
1517 Martin Luther nailed his statements to the Wattenberg Door.  Someone pulled it off and printed it up and sent it all over Europe.
Internet is now available to all, with no taxes, no tariffs.

PEACE offers six modules for the Coalition Web Suite
a. Pastors.com Community
b. Mobilizing Your Members
c. Trip Management
d. E-learning Training
e. Word Database
f. Network for Project Collaboration

7. Shifts to sustainable funding.

The antidote to poverty is job creation.

We need to move away from donation-based projects. We need reproducable and sustainable projects.

Manifest for Renewal: Global Mission

One word to summarize Christianity is the word, "Go."

"In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world." (John 17:18)

"God said to me, 'You are my servant in whom I will display my splendor.' But I said, 'I have labored to no purpose. I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.'" (Isaiah 49:6) So God gave Isaiah the antidote to his discouragement. He told Isaiah his vision was not big enough; his dream was too small. " God said, 'It's not a big enough job for my servant just to recover the tribes of Jacob. I'm setting you up as a light for the nations so that my salvation becomes global!'" (Isaiah 49:6)

Our mission is the Global Glory of God, because God is not satisfied with anything less than the salvation of all nations.

FIVE GLOBAL GIANTS

1. Spiritual Emptiness

People are lost. Sin has broken their relationship with God. They have little to live on and less to live for. They don't know the message of Salvation.  The number one result of broken relationships is conflict. Where there is spiritual emptiness there is conflict.

2. Self-centered Leaders

There are two kinds of leaders: selfish leaders and servant leaders.
When the wrong kind of people get into power their attitude changes. They begin to use people for their own benefit.
Somehow, service over time becomes "serve-us."

3. Extreme Poverty

You have no idea how bad it can be. Most of the world would love to have America's problems. The poorest of the poor in America are wealthy by the world's standards. Half the world lives on less than $2/day. A billion people live on less than $1/day.

4. Pandemic Diseases

Billions of people suffer from curable or preventable diseases.  30,000 children die every single day of preventable diseases. We have a tsunami in the world every eight days! The world lacks the leaders who will say, "Enough is enough! We're going to stop this!"

5. Illiteracy & Education

Billions of people have little, or no, education.

There is only one group big enough to solve this problem. It is the Church.

The PEACE PLAN: What Jesus Did!

1. Jesus preached reconciliation.

He said we must reconcile with God (vertical concern) and reconcile with other people (horizontal concern).

"God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Cor. 5:18)

2. Jesus equipped servant leaders.

"Jesus appointed twelve as apostles that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach." (Mark 3:14)  Jesus loved everybody, trained the 70, disciples the 12 and hung out with the 3.  Jesus invested the maximum amount of time with those who would bear the maximum responsibility.

"The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary." (John 10:11)

"Pass on what you heard from me..to reliable leader, who are competent to teach others." (2 Timothy 2:2)

3. Jesus assisted the poor.

"If you see someone in need and have the means to do something about it, but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love in you? It disappears!" (1 John3:17)

4. Jesus cared for the sick.

"Wherever Jesus went,he healed people of every sort of disease and illness." (Matthew 9:35)

"You have failed to care for the sick or strengthen the weak or bandage the injured ones. You have failed to bring back the strays or looks for the lost.  On the contrary, you've treated them cruelly and harshly... So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I now consider you my enemies, and I will hold you responsibility for what has happened to my flock." (Ezekiel 34:4,10)

5. Jesus educated the next generation.

"God commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation might know the truth - and even the children not yet born may in turn teach their children. So each generation can set its hope anew on God." (Psalm 78:5-7)

FIVE GLOBAL GIANTS

1. Spiritual Emptiness

2. Self-centered Leaders

3. Extreme Poverty

4. Pandemic Diseases

5. Illiteracy & Education

Best Practices for Engaging Business Leaders

Brett Eastman moderated the panel of business leaders this morning. On the panel he engaged: Dale Dawson (Investment Banker Entrepreneur), Jim Lane (President of New Canaan Society), Chris Perry (Bond Trader and Investment Banker), Mark Affleck (Retired CEO), Dave Arnold (Executive Pastor at Saddleback)

I got a big bad case of "Been there, done that." I met a pastor who was obviously the best entrepreneur I had ever met. He had a vision to transform his country by creating a new generation of servant leaders, modeled after Jesus, who would transform his country. He asked me to help him build a school and it is not the best school in Rwanda. - Dale Dawson

My work felt more hollow. I asked the pastor what I should do. He said, "You are a businessman. Build businesses in Rwanda." When I thought, "Business and Ministry," I heard my call. At 50 years old, Jesus whispered in my ear and said, "You can do both." I have a personal mission. My personal mission is to build a bridge from Rwanda to the United States, and transform lives at both ends. - Dale Dawson

I spent 20 years at Goldman Sachs. 1+1 should be a huge multiplier in the Kingdom. I retired in my 40's. I had more time than ever before. I thought about what I'd done right and wrong. One thing I realized was, if I had more male Christian fellowship opportunities along the way, it would have made all the difference. I gathered 25 guys in my family room for coffee and bagels. We talked about "living our faith in the marketplace." We agreed to commit ourselves to each other, and to whatever God was leading us to do. We are now partnering with P.E.A.C.E. to bring guys in and help them take their faith seriously.  Then we want to work with them - together - for Kingdom work. - Jim Lane

I worked in London for eleven years. I worked hard. I was a social church guy. Business was my life. I moved back to New York and was working in mid-town Manhattan on 911. I missed the breakfast, because I was doing a deal, and all the people at the breakfast I missed were killed in the terrorist attacks of 911. That changed my life. - Chris Perry

It's all herding cash and trying to get agreement so everyone can move forward. - Chris Perry

I'm able to apply what I know, and did, with a passion that allows me to be me and allows me to make a difference in a multiplying way. - Chris Perry

My dad was an alcoholic. Sports got me away from the dysfunction of my family. I accepted Christ in college. I went to the business world. At age 33 became president and CEO. I started coming to Saddleback. I signed up for 101 so I could say, "I'm a member of a church. I'm a Christian." I signed up for 201 because Pastor Tom asked us to sign up for spiritual maturity. I thought, "In four hours I can become spiritually mature." I went to 201 fifteen years ago and I've been back to that class every time since. I've been teaching that class for 15 years! God was saying that guys like me can be in His inner sanctuary. The habits of a disciple are the ways, the means, for communicating with God. - Mark Affleck

I'm a trustee here at Saddleback. Saddleback has embraced me to come in here and work here as a business guy! - Mark Affleck

God said, "Come now." My wife said, "What?" - Mark Affleck

I made the decision. I was exposed to the P.E.A.C.E. plan and I think it will offer a framework for business guys to get involved. I'm a strategist for the P.E.A.C.E. plan. They key to let business guys be who they are! - Mark Affleck

I was raised in the church. I was a Christian and I loved business. I loved deals. I did about 40 mergers and acquisitions. I thought I had a pretty good life. I had all the things you're supposed to have: airplanes, boats, houses. Then I went to the S.H.A.P.E. class. They looked at my S.H.A.P.E. profile and decided I should drive the bus.  I did that for a while and did not feel very fulfilled.  I went back to S.H.A.P.E. class because I decided to give them a second chance. Second time around they said I should run the cameras for the services. - Dave Arnold

When I first heard Rick describe the P.E.A.C.E. plan, he started talking, saying, "We're going to build hospitals. We're going to build schools." My wife said, "Who does that? You should do that! Dave, you should do that!" I did not sleep well that night. I got up the next morning and wrote a letter to Rick Warren and said, "I'll do anything I can to help this P.E.A.C.E. program.  I'll dedicate the rest of my life to it." - Dave Arnold

We don't know anything at all about relationships. Genetics indicate men are inferior to women in relationships and communication. - Jim Lane

We say we are a community of men that love Jesus and love each other. - Jim Lane

I get 25 requests for financial donations every week. Guys like me do, and quite frankly, we're a bit tired of it. We want to do what can do. We can get things done. - Jim Lane

Pastors need to look at business people without seeing them as a threat. the criteria for involvement ought to be the Christian Heart, not titles or positions. Everyone with the Christian Heart ought to be able to work together for Christ. - Mark Affleck

The business world if a charge. It is lots of fun to make lots of money. When times are good and men are making lots of money, it releases animal spirits and drives the economy forward. Ministry that released the animal spirits could be good. - Chris Perry

We are the church. We get hung up in the local church and the local grouping of believers. We can get things done. That's what we do. We can get things organized. We need to figure out how to work together. Frankly, you need to learn how to work with us. - Jim Lane

Getting a business person to engage the world and leverage their gifts is the whole game. My pastor once said, "I used to think I was to be a fisher of men. That was true, but I recently learned I'm supposed to be a 'catch-and-release' fisherman." - Dale Dawson

Freedom and opportunity opens a business guy's heart for volunteering. - Dave Arnold

Cast a vision that is outside the walls of your church. The Baby-Boomers have more time, education and affluence than you imagine. This is the time for local pastors to deploy business leaders with enormous talent. - Dale Dawson

Get to know us, as men. Be part of the guys. You need, just like we need, the friendship, transparency, honesty and community. You are the CEO's of your business...just like we are. A lot of the relational issues are the same. Get to know us. We're intimidated by you just like you are by us. - Jim Lane

Go back and form an "Advice Squad" and say, "I need you." Start a dialog so you can move down the road to the point where these people can be engaged. The Advice Squad is loosely connected. Nothing about church budget, or church plans. Only friendship, faith and advice! - Mark Affleck

There is only one way to end poverty in the world.  J.O.B.S.  Period.  There are only two strategies for ending poverty: Wealthy Creation or Wealth Distribution. Communism says, "What's yours is mine and I'm going to take it." Christianity says, "What's mine is yours and I'm going to share it."

Pastors, you need to get over the idea that profit is bad. The only way anything is sustainable is if it operates at a profit. - Rick Warren

We'll have to create self-sustaining P.E.A.C.E. projects. - Rick Warren

   

Tragedy

 

This is the opening of our morning session.

News has reached us that Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter has died. She was struck by a car in the driveway of the Chapman's home in Nashville.

Thousands of us prayed for the family as we began the day. This is Rick Muchow, leading us in prayer. I ask you to add your prayers to ours. 

Oh God, be merciful to us...

Best Practices for Mobilizing Members for Ministry

 

I did a video shoot for Rick during the break.  It was training for pastors who have no other training. I felt honored to offer something to pastors in need. Rick something about "the global glory of God...," so I was in after that.

The last panel of the day was comprised of some great pastors: Joel Hunter (Northland), Jonathan Falwell (Thomas Road), Dave Stone (Southeast Christian) and Bil Cornelius (Bay Area Fellowship).

Troy Gramling (Flamingo Road) was going to be on the panel but he just received notice that his mother had an aneurysm so he had to rush home. Pray for him and his family.

Here are a few quotes:

"God uses people to get tasks done and God uses tasks to get people done." - Bil Cornelius

"People are always in ministry." - Joel Hunter

When people see others serving, they want to serve.  If people can see it visually, and they can hear testimonies, they'll fell the witness of the Spirit and respond. - Joel Hunter

When people go to the zoo in San Diego they see signs with the names of the animals in English and Latin. When they go to our zoo they see signs with the names of the animals in English, followed by a recipe. - Dave Stone

I don't care if you are a Calvinist or not, the more doors he knocks on, the more people get "elected." - Jonathan Falwell

Last Sunday was the one-year-anniversary of my Dad's death.  A lot of you may have been asking if we'd make it. To be honest, I was asking that question too. But if we'll make ourselves available, we'll be used by God! - Jonathan Falwell

Go to your leaders and say, "We need you. We're coming to you because you buy in to what we teach." We ask everyone for one hours of worship a week, one hour of service a week and one hour of fellowship a week. - Dave Stone

I told one man, "The parking lot is a good place for you." He asked, "Why is that?" "Because, you are very good at telling people where to go." - Dave Stone

The sky is the limit for God to unleash the potential for your people when they are all serving. - Dave Stone

The cutting edge of the church for resource distribution is the Internet. Training on-line can come. Any person can get training on line, support on line and education on line...where they are, in their life, when it is convenient for them...if your offering is set up right. - Joel Hunter

The Internet is the broadest distribution channel available to us.  We didn't build our church to seat 3200. We built it to seat 32 million. We distribute the offering of the church to the world. - Joel Hunter

Environments matter to this generation. - Bil Cornelius

Service is not slave labor. Give freedom, vision and ownership to your people. - Jonathan Falwell

Everybody loves to hear their name mentioned in praise. - Jonathan Falwell

I'd rather try, and fail, than never try at all. - Jonathan Falwell

The motivation is, "You can be more like Jesus when you serve." - Dave Stone

The highest form of praise is "3rd-Party-praise."  It is when you say, "I overheard somebody saying great things about you." - Joel Hunter

Rob's Interview

 

One of the writer's for TIME Magazine interviewed Rob this afternoon. I got a photo and thought you'd enjoy seeing it.

Worship Panel

I had a busy lunch.  I talked with Rick for a while and then Steve Komanapalli. These guys are amazing. I'm inspired.

The panel speaking on Worship was comprised of Gregg Surrat (Seacoast), Tommy Kyllonen (Crossover), Dave Ferguson (Community Christian), Marcus Witt (Lakewood) and Ken Foreman (Cathedral of Faith). There was remarkable variety on the panel.

Here are some quotes for you to ponder:

I would go to church and ask, "Where are people encountering God?" The Lord gave me Isaiah 29:13-14  The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish." After reading that I knew we had to do something to give people an opportunity to respond to God in worship. So, for the last 15 minutes of the service we have an altar God for everybody.  It's wonderful.  - Greg Surrat

In 2002 we began to integrate some hip-hop music into our worship. God began to do some amazing things.  We use a life DJ in worship. We have poets. We try to be very creative with the worship style, and many times people connect. - Tommy Kyllonen

People experience a thousand ideas in a week in the normal church. We try to take the whole experience and communicate one big idea. We want to be a community of transformation. Working on one big idea each week helps people focus. - Dave Ferguson

Every Sunday our people are challenged to apply one big idea and live it out. - Dave Ferguson

The hour-and-ten-minutes service is a journey we are all on together. We try to engage the senses. We try to drive the theme, the one thing we want people to get. - Ken Foreman

We try to think of ways to keep people involved and participating all through the service.  We use culture as a starting point to engage folks and bring them in.  We've seen God use those bridges in culture to really connect with the heart of people. - Ken Foreman

We're about 15% Asian, 15% African-America, 35% Anglo and 35% Hispanic. We did the song, "On Christ the Solid Rock" and we did it traditional at the start of the service and then did a "Delirious" version at the end of the service.  It connected with everyone. - Ken Foreman

The lead pastor has to be a worshiper. - Tommy Kyllonen

When pastors and worship leaders have the friendship and respect that allows the worship guy to go and do what he needs to do, the worship pastor will bring all his friends back to help the church with him. - Marcus Witt

The artist, by the very nature of what they do, is a risk-taker.  But the church tends to be risk-averse.  So the pastor needs to know he can trust the artist and the artist needs support for the risk he's taking.  There needs to be reciprocity. - Dave Ferguson

If the musician doesn't have a great relationship with his pastor, he can take the loyalty of worshipers and betray the pastor's trust. That results in a split.  So, the pastor needs to make the worship leader his friend. - Marcus Witt

I have lunch with my worship pastor every Friday. - Dave Ferguson.

We have 13 sites. - Greg Surrat

Our people don't even bring their Bibles because they all have them on their PDAs.  So we start every service lifting our ipods saying, "This is my Bible..." - Greg Surrat

It doesn't matter how big your "box" is, chances are, someday your "box" will limit your vision.  Technology removes the box.  Who made the rule you can only reach out to people within 20 minutes of the piece of property you purchased? - Greg Surrat

If you have a very large church at all, you have lots of people in your church who will never get on the weekend stage, but God has gifted them and called them and they could help people worship at all your sites. - Greg Surrat

If we want a church that is diverse, every song can't be about me, my favorite and my style. I think there is a healthy tension there. The service isn't all just about me. It's about God and about us being together. - Ken Foreman

Study the worship leaders in heaven and you see the different styles of worship for the Church.  There are worship leaders like Lions, always roaring. There are worship leaders like a Calf, happy and leaping in the field. There are worship leaders like a Man, always needy people. Focused "in" always singing, "I need You, Oh I need You. Every hour I need You." Selfish. Self-centered. The fourth kind is the Eagle flying, soaring, oblivious about time. Forgets the people who've been standing for hours. A lot of times this guys is so spiritually minded he is no earthly good.  So you need to identify which of those styles you most identify with.  Then realize you need to be more well-rounded as a worship leader.  Also, develop a sensitivity to the congregation so you know where they are, and where we need to go today. Become sensitive. Become "sheep-shaped." - Marcus Witt

What does the Revelation model say about "seeing where we are and where we're going." Be conscious of those who are behind you, backing you. Who is beside you? If they can't play in G-flat, be sensitive to your teammates. Eyes inside mean you should be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Notice those before you. You can't be all things to all men so if people don't like your "style" of worship it's OK. - Marcus Witt

Panel on Missional Ministry

 

Rob got a photo of my presentation with the panel on our Missional strategy. Let me give a few stats on our GCC partnership in India. God is astounding us all.

By the end of 2007 we had placed 119,419 people in Core Classes.

By the end of 2007 we celebrated 90,676 people graduating from 101, 201, 301 and 401.

By the end of 2007 there were 80,064 people who had given their lives to the Lord.  Almost all of these conversions were the result of small group ministries. Six-week-Bible-studies on "Who God Is" and another six-week-study on the Bible.  In the context of this small group these people gave their lives to Jesus.  That means we know their name, their small group leader's name and their on-going pattern for discipleship and maturity.

The 200 pastors who partner with us have planted 67 new churches!

We've got 7,279 leaders trained to teach the Bible studies: "Who is God" and "Bible Study."

Raj is running point on all this for us....and he is awesome!

Since I was talking, that's what I've got.  Hope it helps. 

Bumpy Start...

Rick is about ready. Worship is in full swing.

Wait. What's this?

A woman coming to our table...

The campus volunteers are doing their jobs with passion and fervor.  Looks like we're at a table for bloggers (since Rob and I are blogging) but Sheila and Michelle are only our wives so they were asked to leave.  Huh?

I wonder if there is a conflict of values at play here. Seems like sitting with my wife and team is helpful...but maybe it's only helpful to us. 

Bottom line. I can't believe they asked my wife to sit somewhere else.

I'll have to get past this or I won't be a very happy person.  Good for me...apparently I have a chance to grow in my faith.

Now...on to Rick's first session.

"At Saddleback we're fast, fluid and flexible. We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow so I don't believe in long-range planning. Vision is not the ability to predict the future; it is the ability to see the opportunity in that moment and take advantage of it." - Rick Warren

We are to become like Jesus.
Convictions = Thinking like Jesus
Character = Feeling like Jesus
Conduct = Acting like Jesus

"It is easy to be biblical if you don't care about being relevant. It is easy to be relevant if you don't care about being biblical. It is important to be both biblical and relevant." - Rick Warren

"I don't need more ought-to preaching. I need more how-to preaching." - Rick Warren

"Knowledge without application produces pride. Because knowledge puffs up but love builds up." - Rick Warren

"Knowledge without application bring judgment. With deeper knowledge comes additional responsibility." - Rick Warren
"Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." (James 4:17)

"The goal of preaching is obedience. It is not to know. It is to obey." - Rick Warren
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING THEM TO OBEY everything I have commanded you." (Matt. 28:19-20)

"Always preach for a response." - Rick Warren

What I've learned about preaching for Life-Change....

1. All behavior is based on a belief. There is a belief behind every behavior.

2. Behind every sin is a lie that I'm believing. When I sin - at that moment - I think that is the best thing I can do.
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures." (Titus 3:3)
The though part of preaching is figuring out the lie behind the behavior.

3. Change always starts in the mind.
"...be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)
         Think...Feel...Act

4. To help people change, we must change their beliefs first. The battle of sin always starts in the mind. Preaching exposes the lie they are believing.

5. Trying to change people's behavior without changing their belief is a waste of time.
"What people say with their mouths comes from the way they think: and these are the things that make people unclean." (Matt. 15:18 NCV)
It's not hard to obey when your mind is renewed. It's impossible to obey when it's not. You can't be good without God's Spirit in your life.

6. The Bible term for "changing your mind" is called "repentance."
          metanoia = "to change your mind."
          Notice: Repentance is not "change your behavior."
          It is actually "change your mind."  It's a paradigm shift.
We are in the mind-changing-business.

7. You don't change people's minds; the applied Word of God does.

8. Changing the way I act is the result, or fruit, of repentance.
Technically, the word "repentance" is not a behavioral change; it means a change of the mind. If you have changed your mind, let's see the results of your new thinking.

9. The deepest kind of preaching is for repentance.
    Repentance: the central message of the NT preachers
John the Baptist
   "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near." (Matt. 3:2)
Jesus
   "From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent...'" (Matt. 4:17)
   "Repent and believe the Good News!" (Mark 1:15
The 70 
   "They went out and preached that people should repent." (Mark 6:12)
Peter
   "Repent and be baptized, every one of you..." (Acts 2:38)
Paul
   "I preached that they should repent..." (Acts 26:20b)
John 
    "Repent!" (Revelation 2-3

"Jesus told them, 'This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations...'" (Luke 24:46-47)

10. To produce lasting life-change you must enlighten the mind (knowing element), engage the emotions (feeling element) and challenge the will (doing element).

You must ask the question, "Will you do this?  Will you?"

Sheila and I Prior To The Session On Effective Preaching

 

Jenstezen Franklin, Tim Keller, Erwin McManus, Kerry Shook and Judd Wilhite were interviewed by Rick Warren on the topic of Preaching.  Here are a few quotes from the session.   

Next Sunday about 120 million people will go to church in America. More people go to church on one weekend in America than attend all sporting events in an entire year. - Rick Warren

Praying is more important than preaching. My family is more important than the church. - Jenstezen Franklin

Being out there with people gives you something to say when you are preaching. A seminary sermon is bones with no flesh. Pastoring gave me things to say. - Tim Keller

There are three things to do: lead, pastor and administrate. - Tim Keller

I feel like my job is to listen the conversation humanity is in, to listen to the conversation God is trying to have with us, to listen to the conversation God is trying to have with me. - Erwin McManus

I have to admit I used to get Rick's tape and memorize it, but I memorized it really good. - Kerry Shook

I block my time. I block it and give it to message preparation. I go to another place, away from my office, and prepare to preach. - Judd Wilhite

Preaching is good for edification (build up), exhortation (fire up) and comfort (hold up). I find I need to make sure I cover each of those over the course of a year.  So, if you have a personal preference of one of those three, over the others, you'll emphasize that one to the neglect of the others.  We must preach the whole counsel of God.  If all you do is fire-up messages you'll burn people out. - Rick Warren

I lay out a 12-month-run so I cover the critical issues in the year, then we plan it out as a team. The whole church knows when it's coming and what is coming. - Judd Wilhite

Before I plan a series I think, "What kind of action do we need to take as a congregation? What do I need to rev-up with my sermons?" I want to be intentional about every sermon. It may be something really small; it may be really big. - Kerry Shook

I challenged people one weekend to give their shoes. We collected 4,600 shoes for the homeless in our community. - Kerry Shook

I think of myself as having a conversation with Los Angeles. When Heath Ledger died I did a series called "Vital Signs" and everyone sent in email questions for three months.  I did a message on the top questions. - Erwin McManus

Each week we took a billboard in our city and held conversation with it. The first one was, "Life is Short. Have an Affair." - Erwin McManus

During the summer I read the books that will help provide background for the topics coming in the year ahead.  I preach a liturgical year. I'm always looking for parts of the Bible I've not yet given to my people. - Tim Keller

I marvel at people who like to plan ahead.  I just can't do it. - Jenstezen Franklin

Sometimes, the older we get the more we shy back from preaching to the kids. But the older we get the more we become father-figures and we can really speak into the lives of young people. I'm 45 and I still just love to preach to young people. The older you get, the more authority God gives you to speak to the issues. - Jenstezen Franklin

Don't ask the question, "What will I preach on?" Instead, ask the question, "Who am I going to preach to?" God knows who will show up.  Ask God to help you know who you're going to preach to so you can preach to their questions and confusion. - Rick Warren

I actually use my small group to help me prepare.  When I'm dealing with a specific issue I use my small group. We have different perspectives. It really helps. - Rick Warren

I love to get feedback from previous messages. I love to run my ideas through kids because they are so current. - Jenstezen Franklin

I have two things: I have a physical file and I have an electronic file.  When I read an illustration I throw it into that file.  So when I preach on a topic I've been preparing that message for years! - Rick Warren

A crisis pulls stuff out of you. It pulls the preparation you've done for years out of you. It may be the best preaching you do. - Tim Keller

I love those moments. For me, it is a personal sweet spot. A time of crisis allows the reconsideration of previously held assumptions. - Erwin McManus

In my book I wrote of a God who allows good people to die in towers. We should be aware, in those moments when everything is unstable, we have opportunity to help people wrestling with crisis. - Erwin McManus

The church has to be relevant in a crisis. If we aren't relevant in a crisis we aren't relevant. - Kerry Shook

There will be crisis. If you know that is going to happen, be ready for that.  It is the point when you speak with authority. - Rick Warren

The Sunday after 911 I said, "I know three things are true. (1) Everything on our schedule for the next three months is off. (2) People are going to be more open to the Gospel than any other time. (3) There is a great possibility for effective evangelism."  - Rick Warren

The buckets you set out will be filled. If you only set out one bucket, only one bucket will be filled. - Rick Warren

I think titles can grab the attention of a congregation. - Jenstezen Franklin

When I started going to church I was so appreciative of the humor. I noticed. He caught me disarmed. He disarmed me with his humor and then I paid more attention to the parts that really mattered. - Erwin McManus

English is my second language. Humor is the last thing you pick up when you pick up language. It may be the highest form of communication. When people laugh with you, you are speaking their heart language. - Erwin McManus

The best humor has to occur to you  on the spot. Humor will reveal your "self-regard." People are attracted to you when they see you see the ironic in life. Spontaneous humor is the only humor that works. Unless you are a fairly godly person, your humor will go awry. - Tim Keller

Humor about sex is both important (because sex is an idol in our culture) but is can go so wrong! - Tim Keller

The word "humor" and the word "humility" come from the same word. It means, "...from the earth." People are looking for an authoritative message coming through a humble personality. That is so winsome and so endearing to people! - Rick Warren

My wife brought her 82 year old neighbor and I was preaching on sex. Because my wife brought her, she had to sit through the entire sermon twice. My wife couldn't even look at her. When the second message was over she looked at my wife and said, "I really needed that. I keep going to our club and I'm waiting on one of the old women to die so I can get her husband." - Erwin McManus

The difference between a bad sermon and a good sermon has a lot to do with you; it has to do with your intellectual preparation. The difference between a good sermon and a great sermon is all God.  It has to do with prayer. It has to do with your relationship with God. Never confuse your gift from the Spirit with the fruit of the Spirit. - Tim Keller

Don't mistake the emotional content with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. There may be an emotional release in preaching that can be mistaken for the anointing of God. When you are under tension, and it is coming out during a very emotional time of the message, it is not the Holy Spirit. It is spiritual vomiting. - Rick Warren

Preaching is passion. If you don't feel what you're saying, it won't move anybody. When you feel yourself getting cold, fast! I've found if I'll fast, it sharpens you. You get broken. You get tender before God. It will ignite the fire in you, to say what you say with great anointing. - Jenstezen Franklin

I surrender when I come on the property. God I'm yours. That act of surrender is a ritual for me. I go in and pray in the auditorium. I meet the people I'm going to speak with. - Judd Wilhite

The pastor standing at the door is really what Howard Hendricks calls "The Glorification of the Worm Ceremony." - Rick Warren

I always kneel at my sofa in my office before I preach. I want my heart totally right before I go out there. - Kerry Shook

Years ago I told the Lord I really didn't want to preach anymore. I haven't written a single word of my talks for the last 15 years. I really try to inter-connect my own walk with Jesus and what I say on Sunday. I try to be sensitive to the prompting of the Spirit. Knowing He is vibrantly alive I try to practice walking in His presence. - Erwin McManus

God looks at you heart. He is not looking for perfection. He is looking for direction. He wants to see the direction you are going. - Rick Warren

God knows the direction of my heart is always for Jesus Christ. I love Him. I love Him with all my heart. That is what God blesses.  He wants to know, "Do you love me?" - Rick Warren

Humility is a declaration of dependence on God. - Rick Warren

Refuse to become a professional. I never want to become so comfortable with material that I don't pray myself hot and study myself full and prepare the message through and then let lose and say, "Holy Spirit, I'm yours." - Jenstezen Franklin

The purpose is to make the truth about Jesus real, not make the truth about Jesus clear.  People shouldn't be taking notes at the end of the message because they shouldn't be able to. - Tim Keller

God has been convicting me, "Live it out at home. Live it out at home. Live it out at home." - Kerry Shook

Speak to the broken and you will always have an audience. - Judd Wilhite

Yea...Everywhere He Goes This Happens....

My brother-in-law is remarkable.  No kidding.  Joel Hunter is one of the greatest leaders in America...and he serves the Church!  He (and his wife "Becky" who is also my sister) are here for this Conference.  Joel is speaking later.

He was being interviewed by Time Magazine a few minutes ago.  I took his picture of him sitting back in the Green Room. 

I'm really proud of him.

Fellowship Panel at Saddleback

Short break between sessions. Floyd Flake, Ray Johnston, Perry Noble, Larry Stockstill and Ron Sylvia presented on Fellowship. Some of their quotes are below.

It's not as easy to get people into small groups, or to get people to stick in their small groups, as I thought it was. - Ray Johnston

We started a church a church with eight people in our living room. - Perry Noble

My best definition of Small Groups is, "Connecting dysfunctional people with dysfunctional people." - Perry Noble

I don't think we can force Christian community.  I think the church that tries to force Christian community is going to face failure, after failure, after failure. - Perry Noble

A text message conversation is just as real to teenagers as this conversation - sitting in this room - is to us. - Perry Noble

A lot of us don't see fellowship as an end in itself. We've backed up and allowed it to happen a lot more organically. We moved from Fellowship to Mentoring to Multiplication. it doesn't happen quickly.  You have to give people time to know each other. - Larry Stockstill

We don't just have fellowship. We are one. - Larry Stockstill

The real goal of small groups is multiplication. - Larry Stockstill

When we started "The Springs" we had no idea what we were doing. I didn't grow up in church. I didn't know Christ until I was 21. Now we've been in 14 locations in 14 years. We've been in rented buildings for 14 years. 60% of "The Springs" found Christ because of "The Springs." - Ron Sylvia

Fellowship is hard. We stink at small groups. - Ron Sylvia

Most pastors have fewer friends now than when they first started in ministry. - Ron Sylvia

Some make it. Some don't. It depends on leadership. - Floyd Flake

Spiritual Growth, Pastoral Care and Life Transformation happen best in small groups. - Ray Johnston

The average Christian attends church once every three weeks. - Ray Johnston

Every time you try new things, you fight your past success. - Doug Fields

Teaching people to be honest - honest with God and honest with each other - is one of our greatest challenges. - Perry Noble

Many times you face hostility because small groups see themselves as "something special" when they are actually a part of the whole. I don't know what to do about it, but it is a problem. - Floyd Flake

John Wesley had 60,000 people in small groups - he called them 'bands' - in the England. Jesus had a small group. He modeled for them serving. He modeled for them fruitfulness. He modeled for them accountability. - Larry Stockstill

You need to get open and real. I'm meeting for pastors across the nation who are longing for fellowship. Jesus modeled unity for his disciples. We are made to be a part of community.  When I love you I don't just sit in the living room and eat potato chips with you. - Larry Stockstill.

We don't force it. You can't force people into small groups. - Larry Stockstill

A small groups has a place, but it is the group most likely to suffer the lack of recognition. They're overlooked, by virtue of the fact that they may not be producing what other groups are producing in the church. - Floyd Flake

Small groups are not just places to be safe. They are places to create an impact. - Ray Johnston

When a person becomes a leader, they don't leave their cell. They never leave their cell. Once they develop their community, you should never break it.  They may be in two meetings each week. We now have some cells comprise of nothing but leaders! - Larry Stockstill

One lady in our church said, "I know you'll probably never know me, but through your blog I feel like I know you." - Perry Noble

We're trying to figure out how to create Chat Rooms. In a Chat Room there is a level of vulnerability that goes to the next level. How can we leverage that and take Christian community to the next level? - Perry Noble

People don't always know what they need. People need community. Small Groups will never take off in your church unless you become the Small Group pastor. - Rick Warren

People will be in a Small Group and you tell stories about how it has helped you. - Rick Warren

I decided to take on the IRS to protect the pastor's allowance. I personally spent about a quarter million dollars on that case. In the middle of that it got all sideways. Later the US Congress passed the "Warren Bill" unanimously. We were clearly in the right but I was just doing it to defend pastors. In the middle of that, all kinds of people who had different agendas began to attack me on that. They were trying to protect their breaks rather than protect the pastors. I was in the biggest battle of my life.  It was my small group that held me together.  They cried with me. They prayed for me. They kept me together.  That's why you need a small group. I tell people, "I could not make it in ministry without my small group." - Rick Warren

People join a small group for the wrong reason.  They need it for relationships but they join it for content.  - Rick Warren

Give testimonies constantly of people in groups. - Rick Warren

Northern Indiana Differs From Southern California

Just before the afternoon sessions began, I snapped this photo at the entrance to Saddleback's auditorium. Looks just like Granger, doesn't it!

Here are a few quotes from speakers on the Evangelism panel.

The responsibility for evangelism is given to everybody; I think some of the teaching on spiritual gifts has undermined our understanding of that. - Bob Roberts

We don't go door-to-door as much as we go ipod-to-ipod. - Mark Batterson

Church is a tag-team sport.  When you walk in you tag me, and you trust I've prayed and prepared and studied.  When you leave, I tag you and trust you're committed to building into the relationship and encouraging the newcomer. - Mark Batterson

Door-to-door can build relationships.  We sent the same person to the house for five months in a row. - James Meeks

Every January we have a season of 21 days of prayer and fasting. Each person prays for three specific people to come to Christ in the upcoming year. Those who do that usually see at least one of those three people come to Christ in the year! - Stoval Weems

There is nothing more you can do - to secure God's love and support - than to share his love and support with people. - MIles McPherson

If we can't change our staff's mindset, we've got to change the people on our staff. We've got to reach out with Jesus' love to the lost! - Miles McPherson

I feel like we can never lose the heart of Jesus - to seek and save the lost. We must not! Each soul matters.  Every story matters.  The one story fires me up!  We've got to keep that value and not let the church become familiar with the beauty and glory of salvation. - Stoval Weems

if we could stop fighting with each other long enough, it'd be amazing how much we could get done. This weekend I confessed the lack of urgency in my life.  If we really believed what we say we believe we'd never lose our sense of urgency. I'm the first person to say, "i need more of that in my own heart."  - Mark Batterson

I say, "Go home and try something. Start something. Be found trying something for the Body of Christ!" - James Meeks

We voted our community dry. But the prostitutes kept hanging around so I had a great idea.  I recruited 300 men to go out and help me witness with the prostitutes.  Nobody told me the police were organizing a sting on the same night!  Luckily we had on red shirts, so we looked different from the other drivers swinging through the neighborhood.  Now...our women have taken over our ministry to the prostitutes in our community. - James Meeks

Just because someone wants to do something, don't lay hands on them too quickly. You need leaders to lead. Make sure you make sure someone is gifted to do the ministry they want to do before you let them. Qualify them before you let them go. - Miles McPherson

We've seen gatekeepers come to Christ.  You need the gatekeepers, as well as the masses, and when you do you'll see movements! - Bob Roberts

What if we treated Imams like Paul treated the rabbis? - Bob Roberts

What are you going to do to engage your community first? - Bob Roberts

One of the mistakes we made was spending a lot of money on marketing. We spent a lot of money to get people to come, to see how poorly we do church. - Mark Batterson

I do believe the greatest message deserves the greatest marketing. - Mark Batterson

I always heard, "You don't attract who you want. You attract who you are." That didn't fit for me. I believe that is true in default mode, but I believe you attract who you love!  I believe God is into diversity.  - Stoval Weems

What is impossible with man is possible with God.  We can reach our neighbors. We can work together. We can stay fired up for God. - Stoval Weems

I'm an Illinois State Senator so I have lots of relationships with unbelievers. - James Meeks

I think God is going to hold us accountable - as Americans - with all we've been given for our witness to the world. - Bob Roberts

One reason I write books is because it is a way I can hang out with someone for five hours and share with them. - Mark Batterson

I coach my son's basketball team and it helps me stay in relationship with lots of people who don't come to National Community Church. - Mark Batterson

I spend time - as a hobby - going to the gym.  I love it there.  I can talk real well to that crowd. We have led three different gym staff members to Christ in the Jacksonville area!  I love it. If I'm in the gym, and you are in there as an unbeliever, you are going to get messed with. - Stoval Weems

Session Two - Rick Waren

 

Walking back to the Green Room after the first session with my brother-in-law (Joel Hunter: Lead Pastor of Northland - A Church Distributed), Rick grabbed us and I got this photo.  Fun, eh?

What follows will be my notes on Rick's second session...about Relational Renewal.  He'll focus on the question, "What causes relational conflict?" His answer is, "immaturity."

Rick’s study of how Jesus made disciples developed these Eight Laws of Spiritual Growth

1.Spiritual Growth is incarnational.

The Christian life is not imitation; it is inhabitation.  It is Christ in you!
Galatians 2:20 “…Christ lives in me…”

Spiritual Growth is both mystical and practical.
All of the practices make no difference without the Holy Spirit, because He is the one who transforms.

     1 Cor. 3:6 “…God makes it grow…”
     I have a part and God has a part.

2. Spiritual Growth is intentional.

Maturity is not inevitable.  You can grow old without growing up.
Maturity is not automatic.  We grow my making commitments.  Decide to grow.
 
You are as close to God as you choose to be.

Maturity is a choice.
Make the commitment and then grow through it.

Jesus method…
When he trained his disciples he took them through graduated systematic sustained development. 
a. come and see….(Jesus’ first recorded words to his disciples)
b. eat my flesh and drink my blood…(He did not say this on their first day)
c. take up your cross, deny your self….basically “come and die.”

There is a big difference between “come and see” and “come and die”….
Some pastors have a church filled with “come and see” disciples.  There is nothing wrong with that!  Jesus called people to "come and see" too!  You have a long process to move people from “come and see” to “come and die.”  Some of us need to emphasize the “come and die” more. Both are true.  Jesus did it all! 
You must move people from “come and see” to “come and die.”

Strategy to move people….
Come and see (Come to Me…I’ll give you rest) – that is “felt-need” by the way….
Come and learn
Come and belong
Come and serve
Come and Go

     Go and SEEK….

Tools we use…

a. Weekly Commitment Cards
If you don’t record commitments, you’re just preaching good sermons.
Every sermon must come down to two words, “Will you?”  You must ask for commitment.
b. Covenants.
Traditional and historical and biblical (Nehemiah 9:38-10:1)  “I, Nehemiah signed the covenant…”
Covenants turn up the heat…from “come and see” to “come and die.”
c. Message Notes. Outlines…
We forget 90-95% of what we hear within 72 hours.
People don’t remember.  You can go to church your entire life and forget everything but 5% of everything you heard!

EIGHT REASONS to USE OUTLINES:

1. It increases attention.  People listen better.
2. It increases retention. People remember more.  The shortest pencil is longer than the longest memory.
3. It increases participation.
4. You can cover more material in less time.
5. You can review the message for years to come. For 1500 years the church grew without anyone owning their own bible!  It is not more spiritual to have it between leather.
6. You can use multiple translations.
There are 13,000 Hebrew and Greek words…we need multiple translations to get the full meaning.  You
7. Unbelievers don’t bring bibles…and they don’t have bibles.

3. Spiritual Growth is incremental.

We grow through a step-by-step process.
Sequential, systematic, gradual development.

A baby must learn to breath before it learns to eat….

Know, love, grow, serve, share Christ….in sequence.

4. Spiritual Growth is personal.

You can’t mass produce disciples.  There is no “one size fits all.”
We are all different…and we grow according to our S.H.A.P.E.

Growth plans must be customized.  We don’t expect everybody to do everything.  People learn different ways and people grow different ways. 

5. Spiritual Growth is habitual.

We grow by developing good habits.  These good habits, for 2000 years, have been called “spiritual disciplines.”  Today we call them “habits.”

To develop habits we…
a.  Assign homework.  Jesus said, “Now, go and do…”  He said in the Great Commission, “…teach them to do everything I’ve commanded…”
b. Journal.  Write down your prayers. 
c. Drive Time Devotions. People download to their ipods.
d. Daily email devotionals.
e. Offer our Guide to fasting.

Focus on helping people develop godly habits rather than come to meetings.

6. Spiritual Growth is Communal / Relational.

In every other religion, the holiest people are the ones who isolate themselves from the world.  Jesus taught the opposite…because it’s all about love.
Infiltration is key.
We only grow in community. 
The bible says 58 times in the New Testament, “..one another…”

You cannot grow without love.
1 Corinthians 8:1 “….love builds up….”

Three tools for relational growth:
a. Small Groups
b. Spiritual Coaches
c. Retreats

7. Spiritual Growth is multi-dimensional.

Maturity is not only measured by your Bible knowledge.  Real maturity is far more than knowing; it is about “being” and “doing.”  Maturity is behavior and belief.

“You only believe the part of the Bible you do!” – Rick Warren|

It takes all five purposes to grow.  Maturity is not an end in itself; maturity is so we live the life of Christ.

James 1:27 “…pure and lasting religion” involves two things: public charity and personal purity. True religion cares for the widow and orphan.

8. Spiritual Growth is Seasonal.

We grow in spurts.

"Ministry is a Marathon" - Rick Warren

 

Rob and Michelle have joined Sheila beside me at Saddleback.  We're determined to serve Christ together and help GCC be the healthy church God wants it to be.  So we're studying together, worshipping together and learning how to serve you better.

Rick Warren is teaching.  Here is some more great stuff from Rick this morning.

Paul knew the secrets of personal renewal. Rick identified SEVEN from 2 Corinthians 4.  Here they are.

1. Enjoy the Grace of God.

Your value has nothing to do with the size of your church; it has to do with who you are.  It’s all grace.  You won’t last in ministry unless you enjoy the grace of God.
Never confuse prominence and significance. They are not the same.
Size has nothing to do with strength.
Big isn’t better. Small isn’t better. Better is better.
Look at your nose….is may be prominent…but not significant.

God created an entire Universe to create this Galaxy to create this solar system to create this planet so he could create you!  He wanted a family and He wanted you in it!

Ministry is received….it is not achieved.

2. You must be authentic.

You must be yourself.
You must decide if you want to impress people, or influence people.  You can impress people from a distance, but you can’t influence them without getting up close.

When you authentically love people, they know it.  You can fake it for a couple of years, but you can’t fake it for 20 years.

3. Remember it is not about you.

The average pastor leaves a church because of 7 critics.
Is you church worth fighting for? 

2 Cor. 4:5  “We don’t preach about ourselves.  We preach Christ…”

The most counter-culture statement you can make in this world is, “It’s not about you.”

If you are going go have a Christ-like ministry, you are going to be criticized.
The Pharisees despised Jesus.  And their #1 criticism was, “He associated with bad people.” They called Him the “friend of sinners.”  Rick said, “I’m proud to be the friend of sinners.”

If you have no friends who are unbelievers, if you have no friends with bad reputations, your ministry is not like the ministry of Jesus!
The real motive behind Jesus’ crucifixion was envy.  “It was out of envy that the chief priests handed Jesus over to Pilate.” Mark 10:15

4. Accept your human limitations.

The quickest way to burn out is to try to be Superman.  You are not Superman.  You can’t fix every person’s problem.  You can’t fix stupid.  “Answer not a fool.”  - Bible.

The pastor who is available to people all the time isn’t worth much when he is there.

God told Rick, “You build the people and I’ll build the church.”
Exodus 23:29-30  “I will not drive them out…I will drive them out slowly…until you have increased enough to possess the land.”
While God is growing your church He is growing YOU! God won’t build it quickly. 

It takes a long time to grow people spiritually.
God takes six hours to make a mushroom; God takes a hundred years to make an Oak tree.
Do you want to be a mushroom or an Oak tree?

5. Do everything out of love.
If you don’t love people, you’ll never last in the ministry.
Do everything in your life out of love. 
Start with your wife.
The purpose of marriage is not to make you happy; it is to make you holy.
How do you spell LOVE?  T.I.M.E.
Want to last in ministry?  Love your wife.  Value, honor, promote, encourage, equip, cherish your wife. 
Start with loving your own family.

2 Cor. 4:15  “All these things we go through for your benefit…God will receive more and more glory!”  Paul says, “I keep on going for the benefit of other people. 
You are there for your people.  They are not there for you.
The church that doesn’t want to grow is saying to the world, “You can go to hell.”  It takes unselfish people

Every church caters to somebody. A lot of churches cater to selfish Christians!  Rick said, "They’d rather let people go to hell than change their music.  We’re not talking about watering down the Gospel; we’re talking about being nice to people!.
Be sensitive to the needs of others."
I don’t care if you love to preach.  I just want to know if you love the people you preach to.  Some preachers love crowds but don’t like the people in them.

6.  Make time for daily renewal. 

Service a car regularly….and it’ll last a long time.
Divert daily.
Withdraw Weekly.
Abandon Annually.
If you work with your mind, work with your hands to reduce stress. 
Don’t do anything competitive; pastors are too competitive already.

Take a day off each week.  Sunday isn’t a good day for pastors to rest.  Jesus said, “the Sabbath was made for man!”  Jesus said, “I made this for your benefit.”
If you’re not taking a day off you’re breaking one of the Ten Commandments.
Do not call it your “Day Off.”  Instead, call it your “Sabbath.”
   Rick takes Monday.  Rest. Recreation.

Most pastors are like a poor photograph...Over-exposed and Under-developed.

Paul said, “I renew myself daily.” 

You need a plan and a partner.
1. Have a PLAN. 

2. Have  PARTNER.
None of us are very good at balancing ourselves.  The heart is deceitful; we have the amazing ability to lie to ourselves. 
Who pastors you?  Every pastor needs a pastor.
Get mentors in several areas; don’t have one mentor, have ten.

The #1 problem pastors around the world mentioned is… “Pastors are lonely.”

Eccles. 4:12  “…a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

7. Learn to live in light of eternity.
You lose your perspective when you are tired.

There are only three great motivations…..
Internal Motivation.
External Motivation.
Eternal Motivation.
Jesus endured the cross looking forward …

Keep your eyes on eternity and you get perspective.
Only he who sees the invisible can accomplish the impossible.

Notes from Rick's 1st Session

 

This is some of what I got.  Hope it helps you.

When God wants to renew your church….or any church…He always takes it through the same 5 renewals.  Here they are:

1.  Personal Renewal. 
It starts in the heart.  If God is going to do something in your church, God will first do something in you!  The bottom line is this; fall in love with Jesus again.  It’s about a relationship with Jesus. 
It starts in the HEART.

2. Relational Renewal. 
First I’m right with God, then I’m right with you.
Love God – Personal Renewal.
Love your neighbor as yourself – Relational Renewal.
The gossip goes down and the
Conflict goes down and unity goes up.

Two signs of renewal:
a. The singing gets better. 
When people love God and each other…they want to sing.
     Harmony creates harmony!
b. People hang around longer after church is over. 
They want to hang out together.
     If people can’t wait to leave each other,
           you don’t have a service – you have a performance.

3. Missional Renewal
We have a purpose.  We have an assignment.
We don’t just love each other and no one else.
We have 5 things we are supposed to do. 
Great Commandment and Great Commission.
When we get the purposes lined up in our churches they grow again.

Get these three: Personal, Relational and Missional Renewal…and you’ll grow!

4. Cultural Renewal.
This is after the first three renewals!  You cannot change the culture of a church. Only God can change it and it comes through Personal, Relational or Missional Renewal!
God does this…after the first three renewal movements!
The bigger a church is, the harder it is to change the culture.
The #1 tool for changing the culture of a church is the PULPIT.

5. Structural Renewal.
You can’t put new wine in old wineskins.
As your church gets healthier the structure must change.
There is no perfect structure in a church.  There is no perfect structure in the bible.  There are character traits but no “job descriptions.”
Structure must change as the church grows!

6. Institutional Renewal.
Institutions are always the last thing to change!
    They never institute change. Ever.
Institutions take longer to change. 
Seminaries are 60 to 90 years behind.
Institutions preserve the changes of the previous generations!

Here We Go!

Worship is beginning.  Rick is on stage and we're going for it.

Rick declared five purposes for this conference...can you imagine?  Rick having five purposes for something?  Here they are.

1. Encourage our spirits.
2. Sharpen our skills.
3. Strengthen our churches.
4. Stretch our minds.
5. Enlist us in partnership.

I'll take notes and pass along what I can.  Hang on.

Commendation

                                                                                         -Photo by Jeff Myers

Last weekend Darnell Bailey was one of our 25 Smooth Stone Award winners. We had one of the greatest weekends I've experienced at GCC. What an honor to see the entire congregation thank and encourage a few who represent so many!

Paul once commended a woman to his people of the church in Rome. He said, "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me." (Romans 16:1-2)

In the same way I commend Darnell to you.  She has been helpful to many, and especially to me.

   

Introducing Jeff and Leslee Bell!

 

                                                                   - Photo by Jeff Myers

Jeff and Leslee Bell are now officially running point on our Elkhart site!  I had the high privilege of introducing them to everyone at last night's Town Hall Meeting. Everyone cheered and enjoyed one of the highlights of our ministry!

You can jump in and help the Bells. They're holding a meeting on June 10th to help you connect with them, and their Elkhart teammates. Jeff will lay out his plan and you'll see how you can play a significant part.

Sheila and I couldn't be more proud of Jeff and Leslee. God has raised up the right people, at the right time, to help us take the right steps, in the right direction, for the right reasons. 
They are courageous.
They are in love with Jesus, each other and their two children.
They love GCC and they're committed to our mission, vision and values.
The favor of God is resting on them.

Mark June 10th on your calendar. Our Elkhart site is officially underway.

Pray Jeff's love for Jesus and Leslee will only increase as he launches this ministry with us. Jeff is a great man. Pray about the affections of his heart. What he loves most will impact everything he touches.

The good man walks along in the ever-brightening light of God’s favor; the dawn gives way to morning splendor, while the evil man gropes and stumbles in the dark. Listen, son of mine, to what I say. Listen carefully. Keep these thoughts ever in mind; let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they will mean real life for you and radiant health. Above all else, guard your affections. For they influence everything else in your life.   (Proverbs 4:18-23)

Town Hall Meeting Tonight @ 7:00

Want to know which "multi-site" site we're launching first?
     South Bend?
     Elkhart?
     Niles?

Want to know the name of our first "multi-site" pastor?
     Bob?
     John?
     Cindy?
     Jeff?
     Bruce?
     Wilma?
     Frank?

Want to know how we're doing Children's Ministry at the sites?
     Kids have great leaders?
     Kids have peer-leaders as kids-lead-kids?
     Kids have no leaders and simply wander the facility while
          their parents are attending the service?

Want to know when we've scheduled our first community meeting with our first multi-site pastor?
     Soon?
     Sooner?
     Soonest?

Come to New Community tonight at 7:00.  We'll worship, celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion and answer these questions...and more!

Sheila and I will see you there.

Steve Took Me Hunting And I Killed This Elk

 

If you don't go elk hunting, you can't kill an elk.

If you don't go fishing, you can't catch a fish.

If you don't exercise, you won't be fit.

If you don't eat rigtht, you won't be healthy.

If spouses don't treat each other right, they won't have a shot at the best marriage possible.

If you don't listen, you won't hear.

If you don't speak the truth in love, you won't be heard.

If you don't save, you won't have money.

If you don't tithe, you won't have a strong church, strong faith, strong witness or strong ministry.

If you don't study the Bible, you won't know what it says.

If you don't learn God's way, you won't know how to stay the course.

If you don't care about the lost, you won't bring anyone to Jesus.

If you choose not to participate in your church, you won't have a church.

If you don't follow Jesus, you won't end up where He's going.

Make a decision.

Start living now so you can become the person you want to be tomorrow.

Today is your day. 

Jesus is your Lord; live like it.

"I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20a)

Blue Jay / Cyanocitta cristata

 

I saw this Blue Jay near our house.
I took these pictures this morning.

Blue Jays form long-lasting monogamous pairs. The bond usually lasts until one of the pair dies. Both the male and female feed their nestlings and both parents actively defend their nest against predators.

These birds are omnivorous. They eat everything from fruit and nuts to insects, mice, frogs and small song birds. They're very aggressive and noisy, driving other birds away from their food sources and their territory.

As I watched this Blue Jay I remembered reading the thoughts of Friar Jack Wintz regarding St Francis preaching to birds.  The Friar's ruminations were worth reading, so I'm passing them on to you.

He wrote:

In reading St. Bonaventure’s Life of St. Francis recently, I was surprised by where Bonaventure positioned what was Francis’ most famous story of preaching to birds. He has the story occurring right at the point in Francis’ life where Francis is struggling with a deep personal dilemma: Should he retire from the world and devote himself entirely to prayer or should he continue traveling about as a preacher of the gospel? To answer this question, St. Francis sends brothers to seek the advice of two of his most trusted colleagues: Brother Sylvester and the holy virgin Clare and her sisters.

The word comes back very quickly from both Sylvester and Clare that it is their clear judgment that God wants Francis to keep proclaiming the good news of God’s saving love. No sooner does Francis hear their response than he immediately stands up, and in the words of St. Bonaventure, “without the slightest delay he takes to the roads, to carry out the divine command with great fervor.”

The typical reader at this juncture, I believe, would expect St. Bonaventure to portray St. Francis as rushing off to the nearest village or marketplace to begin preaching the gospel to the people gathered there. But where does Francis actually go? Francis’ very next stop, according to Bonaventure, is this: “He came to a spot where a large flock of birds of various kinds had come together. When God’s saint saw them, he quickly ran to the spot and greeted them as if they were endowed with reason….

“He went right up to them and solicitously urged them to listen to the word of God, saying,  ‘Oh birds, my brothers and sisters, you have a great obligation to praise your Creator, who clothed you in feathers and gave you wings to fly with, provided you with pure air and cares for you without any worry on your part.’…The birds showed their joy in a remarkable fashion: They began to stretch their necks, extend their wings, open their beaks and gaze at him attentively.

“He went through their midst with amazing fervor of spirit, brushing against them with his tunic. Yet none of them moved from the spot until the man of God made the sign of the cross and gave them permission to leave; then they all flew away together. His companions waiting on the road saw all these things. When he returned to them, that pure and simple man began to accuse himself of negligence because he had not preached to the birds before.”

Thomas of Celano, who wrote an earlier biography of St. Francis, told this same story of Francis’ sermon to the birds, including Francis’ admission of “negligence,” but Celano adds this sentence: “From that day on, [Francis] carefully exhorted all birds, all animals, all reptiles, and also insensible creatures, to praise and love the creator…” (see I Celano XXI)

I wonder if St. Bonaventure’s Life of St. Francis positioned St. Francis' story of preaching to birds to shock us into deeper appreciation for the entire creation. St. Francis believed all creation mattered. Was he right? Has God charged us with great responsibility for all creation?

Indeed, He has.

"So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals." - Genesis 1:27-28

Choreographed Steps

 

Special thanks to Amy O'Day for giving us so much time this weekend.  She choreographed the steps for the Soul Man routine that helped raise so much money for The Center for the Homeless.

Amy and DC danced in every service with all their strength - and God got all the glory.  It was a great weekend.

2 Samuel 6:14 - David danced before the Lord with all his might ...

You Gotta Be Kidding Me...

GCC is incredible. 

But occasionally I have an experience in church that is weird. Occasionally I'll have an encounter with someone who does something so bizarre it boggles my mind.

It happened this weekend.

Here's the story. 

As always, I carried my bottle of water into the service with me.  Sipping water during each service, I preserve my ability to speak. The water helps me protect my voice. Preaching in five services each weekend taxes me and the water helps. 

So, I set a bottle near my chair and continually sip water.

This weekend, after drinking from my bottle, I was replacing the cap when a lady put her hand on my arm and said, "I hope you don't care; I was thirsty and I drank some of your water."

You gotta be kidding me! I put my water bottle down for one minute and some lady picks it up, takes a big swig, replaces the cap, and sets it back in place for me to enjoy.

Can you say, "Backwash?"

Zow. 

That is one of the weirdest things that's ever happened to me at church.

I thought you'd like to know so you can keep an eye on your coffee. 
She may get thirsty again.

"Hunger is no excuse for a thief to steal."  (Proverbs 6:30)

North American River Otter / Lutra canadensis

 

Who are you when no one is looking?

These wild otters were surprised when I slipped into their Florida river habitat. I heard them chirping before I saw them. I watched them for a few seconds before they noticed me. When they looked up from the river's edge I froze this moment in time.  River otters are mostly active at night so this was a fortuitous occasion.

For a moment they returned my gaze, but only briefly.  Sensing no threat, they got back to their business...which apparently involves a lot of play.

Did you ever wonder about the behavior of people you "catch" when they don't think anyone sees them? I often wonder about the impression I make when I don't know I'm under observation.

I'm not concerned about the commonplace - like the time I was singing in my car and noticed the people in the car next to me watching in stunned amazement, or the time I decided to count my strides in a mile (out loud) and failed to notice the kid standing in the yard staring at me (mouth wide open) as I "counted" my way past.  I'm not talking about stuff like that.

I'm wondering about the impression I leave when I don't see the people who are watching me...
     - resolve a conflict over the phone.
     - discipline a child.
     - touch my wife.
     - drive my car.
     - shop for groceries.
     - worship.
     - watch a movie with friends.
     - eat with my family at a restaurant.
     - play on the riverbank with a friend.

What is the example I'm setting? 
What do people see when they look at me when I'm not on?
Am I living the life I should?

I want to. 

So I'm training to learn the steps God has choreographed for my life. I'm studying. I'm following Christ's lead. My partner is Jesus and I'm determined to walk in His steps. If I do that, my example will be positive.

Lord, make it so.

There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God's Message to you that I became your father. I'm not, you know, asking you to do anything I'm not already doing myself. (1 Corinthians 4:15-16)

Extraordinary

Adam is remarkable.

He and Becky were enjoying Dustin Maust's wedding when I took this picture last night. As I watched them relaxing with friends I thought, "This guy is awesome. He's loyal, diligent and talented.  His team loves him. His boss loves him. His friends love him. His kids love him. His wife loves him. Come to think of it, I love him too."

Adam carries huge responsibility.  Butch has tasked him with authority as our Director of Technical Arts.

The players around Adam are high-capacity-wild-eyed-zealots. They know their stuff.  Not many could pilot such a team. Adam leads them well. They thrive under his leadership and learn from his example.

Adam sees the big picture yet never misses the little details.
   He protects our values and values his team.
      He knows our priorities and holds them when values compete.
         He follows Jesus and carries a lot of us with him on the journey.

I'm proud of Adam.  You should be too.

Proverbs 20:6-7 - Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man? A righteous man who walks in his integrity— How blessed are his sons after him. 

Mother's Day 2008

 

Happy Mother's Day Sheila!

Thanks for being the best "Mom" ever. Our children live in the blessing of your faith. I'm honored to serve Christ beside you.

I think Solomon described you when he wrote these words in Proverbs 31, "Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!"

I love you.

Worship Last Night

 

After singing the old DC Talk song Red Letters with Seth Bible last weekend, Trace led worship last night.

I'm proud of Trace. He has decided to pursue Jesus' dream (VISION), according to Jesus' decision (INTENTION), the Jesus' method (WAY). He is determined to live in The Kingdom of the Transformed Heart. (Rob taught the VIM process at New Community.)

Trace knows a life that "shines like stars in the Universe" requires the disciplines of abstinence and engagement. He is training. His life makes a good case for Christ. 

Sheldon VanAulkens said, "The best argument for Christianity is Christians."  He was right. 

Galatians 5:22-23 -  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

35 Minutes

 

I took this picture ten minutes ago. I've been in the auditorium preparing for the New Community.

Rehearsal is over.

The musicians are ready. The technicians are ready. Trace is ready. Rob is ready. The crowd of people filling the Atrium, and waiting to get in, is ready.

We've come to worship. Only 35 minutes remain. We are ready.

Come. Give God praise tonight.

   Psalm 150:1-6 

    Praise the Lord.

    Praise God in his sanctuary;
        praise him in his mighty heavens.
    [2] Praise him for his acts of power;
        praise him for his surpassing greatness.
    [3] Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
        praise him with the harp and lyre,
    [4] praise him with tambourine and dancing,
        praise him with the strings and flute,
    [5] praise him with the clash of cymbals,
        praise him with resounding cymbals.

    [6] Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

    Praise the Lord.

The Fast and The Fire

Worship ignites the soul.  Prayer fuels the inferno.

At the core of the church there's a fire, a love for Christ that burns hot and bright. The searing heat of that brilliant flame warms the pulpit and ignites the congregation. When God sets the leaders of a church ablaze, the entire congregation feels the burn. 

We've been fasting this month. We've been praying.

It's in times of fasting and prayer that I often hear more clearly from God. Sometimes there's a new understanding of scripture; sometimes I hear God's whisper; sometimes God brings conviction through a trusted friend. 

That's what happened a couple of days ago.

God used Rob Wegner to bring me this NT Wright quote. God set Rob on fire with these words, then Rob torched me. Read Wright's words...and let the conflagration roar.   

"...when Tiberius or Nero came to power, the imperial heralds did not go around saying, 'There is this new experience you might like to try on for size, namely, you might like to give allegiance to Caesar if that suits you and if that's where you are right now in your own personal journey.' No, they said, 'Tiberius is emperor! Get down on your knees!'"   (NT Wright)

God, make your church courageous.
   Save us from tepid preaching.
      Deliver us from cold hearts, weak wills and mushy faith.
         Jesus is Lord.
            Help us boldly proclaim it.
               Amen.

One Prayer: Make Us Courageous

                                                                                      - Photo by Dustin Maust

My "ONE PRAYER" message is recorded and ready.  God showed up; scores of people from GCC prayed and encouraged me during the entire process.

I thank God for the privilege.  What an honor to offer my "One Prayer" for the Church. 

Lord, make us courageous!

1 Chronicles 28:20  -  David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you...."

North American Raccoon / Procyon lotor

This raccoon is living in our woods.

Looking at this little guy through the lens of my camera I thought, "Wow.  God's creativity is astounding."

God is awesome.

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. (Psalms 36:5-7)

Three More Hours...

 

It's almost time.

At 11:30 this morning I stand to deliver. 

The One Prayer request is that I record my one prayer for the Church.  Praying with Jesus for the Church, I'm asking God to give us courage.

My prayer, "Lord, Make Us Courageous."

The Lord spoke to Joshua and said, "This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”    (Joshua 1:9)

He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light. (Job 12:22)

 

                                                                                          - Photo by Dustin Maust

"Clarity.  I need more clarity."

I heard it again today. Explain," they say, "Why are we fasting?  What are you asking us to pray about?  What are you expecting from a whole month of fasting and prayer?"

Here is my answer.

I'm expecting God to prepare us for the brilliance of his Glory. 
I'm expecting our hearts to burn with desire for God.
I'm expecting our congregation to embrace a bright tomorrow, where we step out of the shadows and into God's marvelous light.
I'm expecting our fast to make us hunger for obedience to God.

I'm asking you pray for a spiritual break-through, a miracle to rock GCC over a critical tipping point and into a new realm of devotion.
I'm asking you to pray for our courage as God brings us into new territory.
I'm asking you pray for our One Prayer ministry.
I'm asking you to pray for the message I'm recording for all the churches of One Prayer.
I'm asking you to pray for me.

Even if we grow weak with fasting, God will answer our prayers and the world will see God's Kingdom values of "up there" lived out "down here."

Live in the light. Join the fast. Join the prayer.

Psalms 109:21-27 
But deal well with me, O Sovereign Lord, for the sake of your own reputation! Rescue me because you are so faithful and good. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is full of pain. I am fading like a shadow at dusk; I am brushed off like a locust. My knees are weak from fasting, and I am skin and bones. I am a joke to people everywhere; when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn. Help me, O Lord my God! Save me because of your unfailing love. Let them see that this is your doing, that you yourself have done it, Lord.

Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake. (Psalms 79:9)

 

I proclaimed a fast, ... a fast to humble ourselves before our God and pray for wise guidance for our journey—all our people and possessions.   -  Ezra 8:21

I've proclaimed a fast for the month of May. Obviously, I'm not the first to do so. 

Like Ezra of old we stand in need. We must pray for wisdom and guidance for our journey. 

We've never been where we're going.
We've never done what we're doing.
We've never seen what we're seeing.
We've never traveled this road.

There is beauty ahead. We're invited into His story; we're called to give Him glory. Will you join us in prayer? Will you fast and pray during one meal this month? 

I'm asking.

Joel 2:12-13 says, "That is why the Lord says, "Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me all your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your remorse tear at your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered; he is full of kindness and anxious not to punish you."

Our Dogwoods Are Blooming

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.   -   Psalms 96:9-13

Kids And Mountain Top Moments with Jesus

                                                                                            - Photo by Sheila Beeson

On the heels of the Women's Retreat I'm left pondering my own "mountain top experiences with Jesus."  I've had some; so have you.   My personal "mountain top" list includes a number of "Camp Adventure" entries with my family.

For more than three decades I've spent at least one week each summer at Camp Adventure.  I've served as a counselor, cluster leader, worship leader, director and photographer.  I've mopped floors, performed injury triage and towed swamped canoes.  I've prayed, preached and counseled counselors.  I've loved it all.

When our children were still at home we took them camp.  They shared the adventures, the games and the thrills.  They grew up in the context of worship, praise and passion for Christ.  Each summer we took them with us to a "mountain top." 

Getting them up there required effort, money and time.  If you wonder what I mean by this, simply pick up a baby and bear full responsibility for moving it "up and the the right" for about 18 years.

Here's a summary of the price we paid to get our kids up to some mountain tops with us.... 

We gave them attention (so they felt our love and concern). Children need to be watched all the time, not just when they're shouting, "Watch me! Watch me!"  Come to think of it, silence should concern the parents of young children.  Silence demands inspection.

We gave them limits (so they didn't participate in the Camp as "campers" until they were old enough).  We believe children benefit from age-appropriate boundaries. It's a good thing for children to wait their turn.
We told our kids, "You can't drive yet." 
"You can't date yet." 
"You can't pierce your ears yet." 
"You can't have a cell phone yet."
"You can't have a BB gun yet." 
"You can't go to the school dance yet."   
"You can't wear make-up yet." 
"You can't let go of my hand while crossing the street yet." 
"You can't participate in camp as a camper until you are old enough to actually be registered as a camper."

We gave them space (kids are like fluids - they occupy the shape of their containers).  Children fill your space.  Everything from diaper bags, to cribs, to car seats, to sleeping bags, to clothes packed in suitcases...children fill all your available nooks and crannies.

We gave them opportunity to be inspired by real people, with real resolve to follow Jesus, (because "seeing" the faith lived out in the lives of fantastic, spirit-filled, fired-up young adults burns a vision for the Christian-life into their psyche).  Kids will have heroes.  Parents have opportunity, and responsibility, to put their children where they can see people worth emulating - up close and personal.  We exposed our kids to high-voltage radioactive Christ-followers and we often heard them say, "I want to like him!  I want to be like her!"  Getting kids around great people is a really, really good idea.

I miss my kids, but I have no regrets.  Sheila and I did everything we knew to do so they could have mountain top experiences with Jesus.  It was a lot of work, but Amber, Aaron and Angela were worth the effort.

Your kids are worth the effort too.

No doubt about it.

Proverbs 22:4-6 - Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life. In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them. Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

 

Saturday Night Women's Retreat

 

Everyone who's been away to summer camp, or spent a weekend on a retreat, has a similar question.

When you leave retreat territory and return to the land of your forefathers, who will you be?  Whether you've been on a mountain top, or soaring in the clouds, who will you be when you come back? 

There is no question that you'll face challenges.   You'll certainly experience disappointments.  Stuff happens. The Bible says, "God sends rain on the just and the unjust too."  So, no one can choose problem-free living, even though we do get to choose some of our problems.

Saturday night Kathy Guy hit the topic head-on and offered everyone help with "re-entry."  In this photo I captured Kathy addressing the women.  She is a remarkable leader.

She had counsel for every person wanting a strategic (and workable) plan for taking additional steps toward Christ.  The God who is with us on every mountain is with us in every valley.  There is no need to fear re-entry. 

We are not alone.  Though we walk through the darkest valleys we need not fear.  God is with us....even there.

But mountain tops sure are special.  Even the first disciples thought so.

Mark 9:2-5 -  Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes.  His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them.  Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.  Peter interrupted, "Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let's build three memorials—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah."

Let me ask...

When was your last "mountain top experience" with Jesus?

I Love Artists

 

Why was worship so powerful at the Women's Retreat?

Simple.  Jason brought it!  His band was phenomenal; the musicians gave heart and passion to their worship.  The women sang along as Jason led us in praise, confession, prayer and celebration.

Where would normal people - people like me - be without the artists who help us worship? 

With great artists leading me, I confess my sins more throughly.  I praise God with more focused enthusiasm.  I repent more deeply.  I sing more confidently.  Jesus-loving, God-fearing, Spirit-led artists are God's gift to the Church. 

Every artist who commits their art to the glory of God enriches the Church. 

Artists arise! 

No one can do for the Church what you can do, so bring it, and we'll gladly follow.   

Hebrews 6:1  - "So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on "salvation by self-help" and turning in trust toward God."

Dr. Bob Joined Me At The Women's Retreat Today

 

Have you ever seen a picture of Dr. Bob that better captures his love and compassion?

The Apostle Paul wrote the Philippians,  "So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God ... God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus."

Friday Night Women's Retreat

 

Nearly 200 women are with Sheila and me at the Oakwood Inn on Lake Wawasee. Kathy Guy ran point on our first meeting tonight.  When she finished, Jason Miller lead worship with a cadre of musicians.   I stood up in the afterglow of worship and preached the opening session. 

God showed up.  This retreat is awesome!

Sheila and I used to lead all the GCc Women's Retreats.  I'm honored to be here with Sheila again.  Weekends like this help us take steps toward Christ...and each other.  We're glad we're here.

Galatians 5:22-24 - "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there."

This Mother's Day at GCC

The date is set.

Our Director of Student Ministries will be dancing during our Mother's Day weekend services.  Tell every student you know. Tell your family.  Tell your friends.

What's the theme for the Mother's Day services?  "Space Invaders; Sometimes letting a friend invade your space is a good thing." 

Mother's Day at GCC will be a fun celebration, packed with music, song and practical advice straight from the Bible.  Bring a friend to the celebration and we'll help you take a step toward Christ.  Maybe you'll want to take a "two-step."  Sometimes you just gotta dance.

Psalms 68:3-5 
The upright rejoice in the presence of God, delighted and crying out for joy.  Sing to God, play music to his name, build a road for the Rider of the Clouds, rejoice in Yahweh, dance before him.  Father of orphans, defender of widows, such is God in his holy dwelling.

 

One Prayer Fast

 

                                                                                        - Photo by Dustin Maust

My request was clear tonight.  The response was overwhelming.

Someone at GCC will be fasting during every mealtime for the next 30 days.  Someone will be praying during through every breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

I asked everyone at the New Community to volunteer. Now I'm asking you.

Will you fast and pray?  Will you help?  The future is grounded in prayer.

Simply pick one meal during the month of May.  Skip that meal.  During the time you would have been eating read John 17 instead.  After reading consider this; if you could pray one prayer for the Church, what would you pray? 

Pray for the Church.  Pray for GCC.  Pray for me.

Thirty days of prayer.  Pick one meal on one day in May...skip it and pray. 

Are you in?

When will you be praying?